Darren vs Jeremy
Darren and Jeremycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1982, Darren was ranked #83 and Jeremy #38 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1989, Darren was ranked #85 and Jeremy #55 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2011, Darren was ranked #261 and Jeremy #375 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Darren was ranked #676 and Jeremy #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Darren was ranked #535 and Jeremy #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Darren was ranked #1066 and Jeremy #556 among boys in England and Wales.
Darren and Jeremy over time
Darren and Jeremy appear together in 4 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Darren held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jeremy in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Darren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Jeremy in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Jeremy moved into the top 50 at #32 in 1976 as Darren fell out of it to #55, having been #31 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1981, Jeremy moved ahead of Darren in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #57 and #65 the year before became #58 and #56.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Darren and Jeremy averaged 28.8 places apart, ending at #85 and #55.
- Longest-running competitions
Darren and Jeremy were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1066 and #556.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darren #123 in 1996, Jeremy #265 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1966–2025
Darren held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Jeremy in 1.
Highest recorded here: Darren #18 in 1988, Jeremy #121 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Darren #676, Jeremy #432.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Darren held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jeremy in 14.
Highest recorded here: Darren #123 in 1996, Jeremy #265 in 1996.
The order changed in 2017: Jeremy moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #641 and #647; by 2017 that had become #806 and #574.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Darren #1066, Jeremy #556.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys20 shared years, 1970–1989
Darren held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Jeremy in 9.
Highest recorded here: Darren #13 in 1970, Jeremy #48 in 1983.
The order changed in 1981: Jeremy moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #57 and #65; by 1981 that had become #58 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Darren #85, Jeremy #55.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1968–1982
Darren held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Jeremy in 8.
Highest recorded here: Darren #28 in 1969, Jeremy #24 in 1977.
The order changed in 1976: Jeremy moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #31 and #33; by 1976 that had become #55 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Darren #83, Jeremy #38.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Darren | Jeremy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Exact meaning uncertain — may derive from a rare Irish surname, or be a variant of Darrell. Popularized in the late 1950s by actor Darren McGavin and in the 1960s by the character Darrin Stephens from Bewitched. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdæɹ.ən/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Darren has a recorded origin (Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell)); Jeremy does not have one recorded yet.
- Darren has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jeremy.
- A meaning is recorded for Darren; Jeremy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Darren
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1960–1989
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1960–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1066 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Jeremy
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1968–1999
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in New Zealand, in 1977 (recorded 1968–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #556 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys